Search for missing Minn. snowmobiler suspended

Dangerous conditions led authorities to suspend the search Sunday for a snowmobiler they believe broke through the ice and was swept down a remote part of the St. Croix River.

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By Associated Press

Crookston Times - Crookston, MN

By Associated Press

Posted Feb. 18, 2013 at 1:00 PM

By Associated Press

Posted Feb. 18, 2013 at 1:00 PM

PIne City, Minn.

Dangerous conditions led authorities to suspend the search Sunday for a snowmobiler they believe broke through the ice and was swept down a remote part of the St. Croix River.

Authorities got a 911 call just after 6:30 p.m. Saturday that a snowmobiler had broken through the ice on the river in the St. Croix River National Scenic Waterway on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, the Pine County sheriff's office said in a news release. Two other snowmobilers told authorities they were riding on the frozen river in the dark when the victim hit a large patch of open water. He was thrown from his machine and disappeared.

Authorities believe he may have been swept downstream and under the ice pack, the news release said. Responders found a partially submerged snowmobile on the edge of a large open area of turbulent water, but no sign of the victim.

It was too dangerous for responders to enter the water, but they searched on foot, by snowmobile and helicopter Saturday night. The responders included deputies from the Pine and Burnett County, Wis., sheriff's departments and personnel from the Pine City fire department and National Park Service.

The search resumed Sunday morning, but Chief Deputy Steven Blackwell told WCCO Radio the search had to be suspended about 12:30 p.m. due to dangerous conditions that included turbulent water and rough terrain.

The victim's name was withheld pending notification of relatives.

It was one of two serious snowmobile accidents on the St. Croix River on Saturday and was also one of two in Pine County.

Downstream, in the Twin Cities area, a 22-year-old snowmobiler died after going through the ice about noon Saturday in Bayport near the Xcel Energy Allen S. King power plant, which feeds warm water feed into the river. Washington County Chief Deputy Dan Starry said the man went right past the thin ice warning signs. He was pulled from the water about 20 minutes later and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released.

In the other accident in Pine County, a snowmobiler suffered life-threatening injuries when he apparently struck a partially submerged island and was thrown from his snowmobile on Pokegama Lake around 9:15 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff's office said. Authorities did not know the condition of the victim on Sunday.